Hat brim



April 16, 1935. A. URlwAL 1,997,708

HAT BRIM Filed Aug. 24, 1954 INVENTQR ALroNs URM/An.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 16, 1935 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE .HAT BREVIAlfons Urlwal, Laredo, Tex., assignor to Texas Harvest Hat Company,Inc., Laredo, Tex.

It has been discovered that the constructions of the brims of straw hatswith radial corrugations or ridges extending to the edges of the brimsare defective in several respects. First, the edges of brims in whichthe radial corrugations extend to the edges are very thick withoutcorresponding rigidity. Second, the extension of the corrugations to thevery edges serves to render the edges soft in that the ends of thecorrugations have very little strength when compressed. Third, theapplication of bindings upon the edges of the brims is unsatisfactorydue to the necessary thickness, and the mounting of them in position isexceptionally difficult.

This invention has for an object the construction of the brims of strawhats with radial corrugations or ridges in such a manner that thevarious defects pointed out in the previous paragraph are eliminated.

More particularly, the invention proposes to construct corrugations orridges which do not extend completely to the edges of a brim. It hasbeen found that the brim will be reinforced and stiifened because of thefact that the corrugations terminate slightly before the edge.Furthermore, binding may be pleasantly and 'conveniently applied. d

Another one of the objects of this invention is Y the application ofbinding strips in a particular manner upon the edge of the brim so as toadd to its reinforcement.

Still further, the invention contemplates to teach the manufactureof thebrims of hats in a manner so that 'thecross sectional shape of thecorrugations or ridges are n'ot limited to semicircular but may betriangular, square, or of other shape.

Another one of the objects of this invention is an arrangement ofbindings upon the brims of straw hats in such a manner that portionsthereof are detachable as desired to change or control thev flexibilityof the brims of the hats.

AStill further, the invention proposes the construction of an article.of the class described which is simple and durable and which can bemanufactured and soldat a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects andadvantages thereof reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawing and to the appended claims in which the variousnovel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a straw helmet hat constructedaccording to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary bottom elevational view of the brim of the hatshown in Fig. 1 seen as though looking in the direction of the line 2-2of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is another fragmentary sectional view but taken on the line 4 4of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the brim of a straw hatconstructed according to another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is another fragmentary sectional view of the brim of a straw hatconstructed according to another modification of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary bottom view of Fig. 6 looking in the directioncf the line 1-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of a portion of the binding used in Figs. 6and 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8. i

Fig. l0 is a side elevational view of a plain straw hat embodying thisinvention.

Fig. 11 is an elevational view of a fedora shaped straw hat embodyingthis invention.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of a brim of astraw hat illustrating anotherembodiment of the corrugations or ridges.

In Figs. 1-4 inclusive, a helmetl type straw hat Iii is illustrated witha brim Ilia. This brim is shown formed with a plurality of upward radialcorrugations Il having their ends blending into the material of thebrim. More particularly, the corrugations or ridges Il extend frompoints Ila slightly spaced from the inner diameter of the brim to pointslib slightly spaced from the free edge of the brim. These corrugationsare of semi-circular shape in transverse cross section.

The edge of the brim lila is finished with a binding strip I2 sewedthereon. This binding strip may be narrow or. wide depending merely upontaste. The outer ends of the corrugations or ridges Il should extendjust up to the edge of the binding strip I2 to obtain the best results.Thus, if the binding stripis narrow the corrugations or ridgesaredslightly further extended and if wide are slightly less extended.

It is a feature of this invention that the free edge ofthe brim is notcorrugated but plain.- It is a further feature of this invention thatthe corrugations or ridges extend just to a small distance from the freeedge so that the brim is reinforced by the rigidity of the corrugationsand the free edge is reinforced also because of the close proximity ofthe corrugations, but at the same time the free edge is thin.

In Fig. 5 another embodiment of the invention is an interior binding I2and an exterior binding I2a engaged thereover. The exterior binding isof larger size so that there is a relative taper of the edge of thebinding towards the material of the brim. 'I'he double binding serves tofurther reinforce and stiil'en the edge of the brim of the hat.

In Figs. 6-9 inclusive, another embodiment of the invention has beendisclosed in which the brim Illa of the hat I 0 is provided with radialcorrugations or ridges II terminating slightly from the edges thereof. Areinforcement strip Il oi' cardboard or fiber material is engaged uponthe free edge of the brim. This reinforcement strip has its outer edge Ila turned over so as to engage over the edge of the brim. Small radialmembers I5 project from the strip I4 and are adapted to engage withinthe hollow undersides of the outer ends of the corrugations or ridgesII.

'Ihese projecting members are similarly shaped as the hollows of thecorrugations. They are detachably mounted in position by reason of beingformed with tongues I6 upon their outer ends engaging receiving groovesupon the edge of the strip I4. and furthermore, because of the provisionof prongs I'I stamped from the material of the members and engaging intothe material of the ridges or 'corrugations II. The arrangement is suchthat the rigidity produced by the corrugations or ridges II are directlycommunicated by the members I5 to the edge of the brim of the hat. If itis desired to eliminate this direct communication then the members I5may be removed by forcing the prongs I1 free from the material of thecorrugations II and then moving the members I5 to disengage the tonguesI6. A binding strip I2b is engaged over the turned edge of the strip andis secured in position with stitches 20. These stitches 20 also engagethrough material of the strip I l which is soft enough to permit thisconstruction.

In Fig. 10 another embodiment of the invention is disclosed wherein theconventional shape straw hat I 0b is shown formed with a brim IIIaconstructed accordingto this invention. 'Similar parts may be recognizedby the same reference numerals.

In Fig. l1 the invention is shown applied to a fedora shaped straw hatIilc. The straw hat is provided with a brim IIIa constructed accordingto thisinvention.

In Fig. 12 a corrugation or ridge lId is shown distinguishing from theprevious illustrated ridges II by the fact that it is of triangular orpointed shape. This form is illustrated merely to call attention tothefact that the cross sectional shape of the corrugations or ridges maybe varied.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:-

l. In a hat, a brim of inverted cup shape formed with a plurality ofupwardly embossed radial corrugations or ridges having ends blendinginto the material of the brim near the inner and outer edges thereof andforming a rigid brim with thin edges.

2. In` a hat, a brim of inverted cup shape formed with a plurality ofupwardly embossed radial corrugations or ridges having ends blendinginto the. material of the brim near the inner and outer edges thereofand forming a rigid brim with thin edges, said corrugations or ridgesbeing of semicircular cross sectional shape.

3. In a hat, a brim of inverted cup shape formed with a plurality ofupwardly embossed radial corrugations or ridges having ends blendinginto the material of the brim near the inner and outer edges thereof andforming a rigid brim with thin edges, and binding material attached uponthe free edge of said brim. the outer ends of said corrugations orridges terminating at the inner edges of the binding.

4. In a hat, a brim of inverted cup shape formed with a plurality ofupwardly embossed radial corrugations or ridges having ends blendinginto the material of the brim near the inner and outer edges thereof andforming a rigid brim with thin edges, and a binding for the free edge ofthe brim including a reinforcement strip with an edge bent around theedge of the brim, and provided with radial members engaging theundersides of said corrugations.

5. In a hat, a brim of inverted cup shape.

formed with a plurality of upwardly embossed radial corrugations orridges having ends blending into the material of the brim near the innerand outer edges thereof and forming a rigid brim with thin edges, and abinding for the free edge of the brim including a reinforcement stripwith an edge bent around the edge of the brim, and provided with radialmembers engaging the undersides of said corrugations, said radialmembers being detachably mounted in position.

6. In a hat, a brim of inverted cup shape formed with a plurality ofupwardly embossed radial corrugations or ridges having ends blendinginto the material of the brim near the inner and outer edges thereof andforming a rigid brim with thin edges, and a binding for the free edge ofthe brim including a reinforcement strip with an edge bent around theedge of the brim, and provided with radial members engaging theundersides of said corrugations, said radial members being detachablymounted in position, with interengaging tongues and prongs.

7. In a hat, a brim formed with a plurality of upwardly embossed radialcorrugations or ridges having ends blending into the material of thebrim near the inner and outer edges thereof and formingl a rigid brimwith thin edges.

8. In a hat, a brim formed with a plurality of embossed radialcorrugations or ridges having ends blending into the material of thebrim near the inner and outer'edges thereof and forming a rigid brimwith thin edges. l

9. In a hat, a brim formed with a plurality oi' embossed radialcorrugations or ridgesl having ends blending into the material of thebrim near the outer edges thereof and forming a rigid brim with thinedges, 'and binding material mounted upon the edge of said brim andhaving elements reinforcing said corrugationsmr ridges.

ALFoNs URIWAL.

